Georgia police officer fatally shot responding to pickleball club; suspect arrested
Authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a police officer who responded to a shopping center in Georgia, officials said Saturday.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Edward Espinoza, has been taken into custody.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the officer—whose identity has not been released—was responding to a report of a suspicious person in the parking lot of a pickleball club in Roswell on Friday night.
As the officer approached Espinoza for questioning, the suspect allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots. The officer was transported to a hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries, the GBI stated.
Espinoza was subsequently taken into custody and charged with murder, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Online records did not indicate whether Espinoza had legal representation as of Saturday. A call from The Associated Press to the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office went unanswered.
The results of the investigation will be submitted to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for potential prosecution, according to the GBI.
Roswell is located approximately 25 miles north of Atlanta.
In a statement, the Roswell Police Department said further details would be released in the coming days, emphasizing that their current focus is supporting the family of the fallen officer and their grieving colleagues.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp addressed the tragedy in a Friday night post on X, expressing his condolences to the officer’s loved ones and urging Georgians to keep law enforcement in their thoughts during this “sudden and heartbreaking loss.”
“We also ask that we remain mindful of the heavy sacrifices law enforcement and their families make to keep all of us safe each and every day,” he added. “May this courageous man’s memory inspire all of us in the days, weeks, and years ahead.”
